Alkali-activated materials from sugarcane bagasse ash
Alkali activated materials, sugarcane bagasse ash, sustainability.
The production of Portland cement shows significant importance for social and economic development of a country, however also generates environmental impacts from the extraction of raw materials to the production of clinker. Despite the impacts, the demand for Portland cement is still growing in developing countries such as India, China and Brazil. Faced with this impasse, research for the development of alternative materials to Portland cement is growing around the world. Among these researches, those related to alkali activated materials (AAMs) stand out. AAMs are considered more sustainable than Portland cement because they emit less CO2 during their production process. In addition, the raw materials used in its development are generally residues or rejects from other industrial processes. Sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) is an example of residue generated on a large scale in Brazil and with great potential for use in the production of AAMs. Therefore, the present work seeks to develop AAMs using SCBA as an exclusive precursor. For this, the reactivity of the ash will be evaluated through chemical tests. Subsequently, the material's viability will be verified through physical, mechanical and durability tests. As a result, it is expected to promote sustainability and innovation in the field of construction materials. In addition, it seeks to provide the appreciation of the SCBA by reinserting it into the production cycle.